Please identify this bird in Kingston Ontario

by Gaelyn Scarlett
(Kingston, Ontario, Canada)

I photographed this bird from a distance of about 150', sitting still for a long time in a large willow tree in a residential back yard in the centre of Kingston, Ontario, Canada, on 2012.12.14 at 3pm.

I took a few shots before it flew off.

Here it is from a distance for scale (there are houses in the background), with close ups of it's front and then of it's rear as it turned to fly away on my approach.

Can anyone identify it for us?

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starstarstarstarstar 		Hawk
by: Anonymous

Red-Tailed hawk comes to mind first, but also looks very much like the Cooper's Hawk. We have a few here in Belleville as well, so I would love to know for sure too!
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starstarstarstarstar 		Red-Tailed Hawk
by: Gaelyn Scarlett

I think you may have it! I had a look in the National Audobon Society Field Guide to North American Birds, Eastern Region, and their line drawing shows the same chest markings. Thanks Tammy!
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starstarstarstarstar 		Good shots!
by: Tammy

Hi Gaelyn,

I'm not very skilled at the birds of prey of Ontario, but after having a look at them, may I suggest a Red-tailed hawk?

You may know the book, but I find the Peterson's Field Guide for Eastern Birds a great resource for identification (though not used for this one).

Hope you get your 'bird'!

Tammy

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